Women's Hoop Report 58

UCLA's Onyenwere will be a load for Wyoming

Winners Only All-National Second Team selection Michaela Onyenwere leads third seeded UCLA (16-5) against 14 seed Wyoming, in the NCAA Tournament, March 22.

Below: Michaela Onyenwere

Onyenwere, a six-foot forward, posted team leading averages of 18.2 points and eight rebounds per game. This season she has had three games with at least 30 points or more. Her final game in the PAC-12 Tournament was a 30-point game in a loss to Stanford. Her top performance of the year saw her score 33 points and grab 10 rebounds during a road win over Oregon in January.

Onyenwere posted five double-doubles this year. She grabbed a season best 16 rebounds against Arizona. She also had a game with 15 rebounds. Onyenwere is a capable three-point shooter. The senior shot six-for-six from long distance when she scored 30 points in a 93-51 route over USC in February.

Above: Alba Sanchez Ramos

Wyoming had a record of 8-9 on Feb. 6, before winning its last six games including four in the Mountain West Conference Tournament. The MWC champs enter the NCAA Tournament at 14-9 behind the six-foot guard Alba Sanchez Ramos. She averages 10.3 points per game and has had some strong rebounding performances this season. In three games from Feb. 4-11, she grabbed 35 rebounds. Her best scoring performance of the season was when she scored 27 points against Fresno State in January.

Gondrezick, Martinez lead WVU against Lehigh

Winners Only National Player of the Year Kysre Gondrezick leads the 21-6 fourth seed West Virginia Mountaineers to a first round battle against Lehigh (10-5), March 21.

Below: Kysre Gondrezick

Gondrezick, a 5-9 senior had a hot start against Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament, scoring 26 points, while making 47.4 percent of her shots. The next two contests saw the guard struggle a bit as she made just 10-of-33 shots and scored a combined 30 points in the two games.

Gondrezick had her most productive year averaging 20 points per game and 4.7 assists. She scored at least 20 points 14 times this season.

Below: Esmery Martinez

Her biggest supporting player has become a star in her own right as Esmery Martinez has become as important in WVU's success. The Winners Only All-Defensive First Team selection hauled down 11.8 boards per game. Martinez had three games with 21 rebounds or more. She also posted 14 double-doubles.

The 6-2 sophomore forward also improved as an offensive player. She averaged 13.9 points per game, making 49.1 percent of her shots and 77 percent of her free-throws.

West Virginia will be playing against a team that got on a roll just before the NCAA Tournament. Lehigh was 6-5 on Feb. 21, before going on a four-game win streak including three wins in the Patriot League Tournament.

Below: Frannie Hottinger (center)

The Mountain Hawks defeated Boston University 64-54 in the conference championship. Lehigh is led by sophomore guard/forward Frannie Hottinger's average of 14 points per game. She also leads the team in rebounding with 6.9 boards per game. Junior guard Clair Steele is a 5-5 three-point sniper. She averages 7.6 points per game but has a three-point shooting clip of 40.9 percent.

North Carolina A&T looks to drop Goliath North Carolina State

North Carolina State (20-2) is a number one seed and throughout the season it has slayed its share of number one ranked opponents, but North Carolina A&T (14-2) hopes to do the same thing to its in-state opponent in the first round of the NCAA, March 21.

Below: Chanin Scott

Winners Only All-National Fifth Team selection senior Chanin Scott and her running mate, the dangerous Deja Winters average 14.4 points each for North Carolina A&T. Scott has had three straight games with 11 or more rebounds. She averages 8.3 rebounds per game and has pulled down 10 or more rebounds seven times this season.

Below: Deja Winters

Winters, a 5-11 forward is also a senior. She hit the game winning shot that delivered North Carolina A&T the MEAC Tournament title over Howard. She finished that game with 15 points. Prior to that performance she had scored 20 points or more in three-straight games.

A third performer that will be important to North Carolina A&T's success is 6-3 center Jayla Jones-Pack. She will have to face Winners Only All-National First Team center Elissa Cunane of North Carolina State. Cunane averages 15.6 points per game on 55.7 percent shooting. The 6-5 star averaged 23.3 points in three games during the ACC Tournament. She made 62.5 percent of her shots during that stretch.

Below: Jayla Jones-Pack

Jones-Pack has proven to be a quality defender. She averages 2.4 blocks per game. She had two games this season with six swats.